I realize that I may be just one of the multitude of individuals who have weighed in on the current drama surrounding Mars Hill and the embattled Mark Driscoll. I also realize that the one year that my family spent at that church barely gives me "credibility" in the eyes of those defending Pastor Driscoll. I can say, however, that I have spent a few more years than that as a Christian, and although I may engender thoughts about "judging" and "removing the beam from my own eye", I will clarify that my own shortcomings are enough to fill a whole years worth of blogs. I also can safely say that as the head of my own family of four, I am constantly diagnosing what areas I need to grow in, and God is consistently letting me know where my flaws are.(as does my wife:) This is something any leader of any entity should do. A pastor may need to do this even more so. In the Bible there is significant clarity on what traits a pastor needs to possess.
The following are some of those:
Be in submission (Titus 1:6)
Be a good steward (Titus 1:7)
Be humble (Titus 1:7)
Be peaceful (I Timothy 3:3)
Be self-controlled (Titus 1:8)
Be Upright (Titus 1:8)
Be a skilled teacher (Titus 1:9)
Be spiritually mature (1 Timothy 3:6)
Be an example to the flock (1 Peter 5:3)
My challenge is to the pastors at Mars Hill not named Mark Driscoll , to go down this checklist and truly ruminate on whether their current leader exhibits these traits. Yes, I know that answering to the negative on some of these characteristics can really place you in a difficult position. I know that many of you have families, congregations, and careers that hinge on you maneuvering very carefully in this area. You may have to make a decision between Spiritual Integrity and your Security. Yours is not an enviable position. It is however, the position that you have chosen, and hopefully a position a God has blessed you with. Although the severity of the claims may not reach the scale of the abuses of the Catholic church and the turning away that priests did regarding the issue of abuse, your silence can do the same harm to the name of Christ. Silence, whether you think so or not, does indeed imply consent. Your consent comes through in every message you preach, in every accusation you reject as "mud slinging", "personal attacks" or as outsiders judging what they cannot see. Once again, although Driscoll's apparent consolidation of power does not reach the physical level that such despots as Stalin, Hitler, or any other who has abused power by silencing opposition reached, these men were not messengers from God. Driscoll is. If indeed Driscoll has repented, it might behoove some of you to speak on the damage that can be done when leaders do not embody these Biblical characteristics. It might be important that you share some ideas about reconciliation with your eager flocks. It seems that there is strong evidence that this message is not currently evident at Mars Hill. Once again, the question of integrity vs. security comes into play. It may be a question of the faith that has been preached from your pulpits many times in the past 15 years. Do you have faith that your words of admonishment and reprimand will fall on deaf ears, or do you have faith that God can use them to promote change in your Church and with your flock? Do you have faith that were you to speak out, that your head pastor would accept them with grace and understanding, or do you believe that you too will be shunned, pressured and forced to serve God in a different capacity? Mark Driscoll is absolutely responsible for his actions as are you. Will your silence be an affirmation that all is well, and only the world seeks to tear down a man of God? The Bible is full of examples of leaders who chose to take the stand against what was wrong with the leaders that God appointed. Are you one of these leaders? Are you willing to lay your security on the altar of Spiritual Integrity? What an opportunity for you to clearly shout to the world that you follow the one and only True Leader, and that all earthly leaders are subjected to his authority. Once again, I do not envy your positions, but I do greatly envy your potential for leadership in this trying moment. I pray that you will prayerfully consider this list, do a thorough search of the truth in this situation, and choose that path of integrity rather than the path of security. I pray that you will be the leader that God has set you up to be. I pray that if you choose the path of spiritual responsibility that you will reap only blessings in any future endeavors. Please prayerfully consider this. This is your moment of decision. Spiritual Integrity or Security? Never has there been more for you to lose or more for you to gain.
Lovingly and Prayerfully,
Matthew Beeman (MA in Religion)
